A man accused of rape declared not guilty by the court has brought an end to a high-profile criminal case heard in Aruba. On Monday morning, a 55-year-old Colombian man, identified by the initial C., was formally acquitted of rape charges after the judge ruled that there was insufficient and inconclusive evidence to support the accusation.
The criminal case was initiated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which accused C. of raping a woman identified as H. on March 14, 2024, and committing immoral acts. Prosecutors demanded a three-year prison sentence. However, the court found that the legal threshold required for a conviction had not been met, resulting in the man accused of rape being declared not guilty.
Court Proceedings
The case was heard on January 12, 2026. During questioning, C. confirmed that he knew the woman, who had arrived in Aruba from the Netherlands in late 2023 and stayed in an apartment close to his residence. According to the accused, the two had developed a consensual romantic relationship and had engaged in sexual relations prior to the date of the alleged incident.
The judge noted that the woman also acknowledged having had sexual relations with C. before March 14, 2024. On the day in question, the pair planned to go out together, consumed alcohol, returned home, and later went to sleep.
According to the woman’s statement, the man removed her clothing and touched her while she was asleep. She claimed that when she told him “no,” he initially continued but stopped when she became distressed. C. consistently denied using force, stating that he stopped immediately when she refused and that no sexual act occurred against her will.
Arguments from Both Sides
The Public Prosecutor argued that the woman’s emotional condition and statements to friends supported her allegation and maintained that the act continued despite her refusal.
The defense attorney countered that there was no physical, medical, or forensic evidence to prove rape. The defense emphasized that emotional distress alone cannot establish criminal responsibility and pointed to inconsistencies in the complainant’s statements. The court also heard that the woman continued to visit the accused’s workplace after the incident.
Judge’s Ruling
In delivering the verdict, the judge stressed that rape is an extremely serious accusation, but the law requires convincing supporting evidence, not solely testimony. The court found that:
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Both parties had an established intimate relationship
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It could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt that sexual acts occurred against the woman’s will
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Emotional distress alone could not be conclusively linked to rape
As a result, the court ruled that reasonable doubt remained, and therefore the man accused of rape declared not guilty was acquitted. The judge informed the accused that the Public Prosecutor still has the right to appeal the ruling.
